Subject: OLS Weekly Update: 18 MAY 1998 ---------------------- OLS SOUTHERN SECTOR UPDATE 98/6 18 MAY 1998 A weekly report on major developments concerning relief operations in southern Sudan Due to the current emergency in Bahr el Ghazal/Lakes, the OLS Weekly Update was temporarily suspended and Bahr el Ghazal specific reports were distributed. The weekly reports will now recommence and combine Bahr el Ghazal information with reports concerning other aspects of the OLS operation. We hope this has not caused any inconvenience. OLS monthly reports were not suspended and are available with programmatic, security and general information on ongoing OLS activities. OLS ASSESSMENT TO THE NUBA MOUNTAINS TO TAKE PLACE... For the first time in the history of OLS, approval has been given by the Government of Sudan (GOS) for an assessment of humanitarian needs in SPLM-held areas of the Nuba Mountains. The announcement was made on Wednesday 13 May in Khartoum during the visit of Netherlands Minister for Development Cooperation, H.E. Jan P. Pronk. In discussions with Nairobi-based agencies involved in southern Sudan on Wednesday, the OLS Southern Sector Coordinator, Mr Carl Tinstman, expressed his thanks to all parties involved and gave special thanks to the United Nations Secretary General and Minister Pronk for their individual efforts toward this end. The assessment is scheduled to begin within the next two or three weeks and will be comprised of international United Nations staff members from the Northern and Southern Sectors of OLS. The need for humanitarian assistance, including food, household food security, health, educational and other programmes will be examined. Following the OLS assessment, a report will be released as the basis for planning and requests for specific humanitarian relief programmes. UPDATE ON THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN BAHR EL GHAZAL_ See attached Sitrep #10. All following Weekly Updates will merge these two documents. ASSESSMENTS IN UPPER NILE/JONGLEI A multi-sectoral assessment team - comprised of OLS agencies Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF)- Holland, UNICEF, WFP (who are carrying out food distributions while doing the assessment) and the Coordinating Committee for Voluntary Service (COSV) - traveled into the Upper Nile region on 12 May to assess the level and type of humanitarian need in that region. Specific areas targeted for the assessment are Nhialdhiu, Duar, Koch, Nimne and Mankien. This assessment has been pending security clearance. There have also been individual agency assessments. MSF-Holland has carried out an assessment in Leer, Duar and Nimne which was completed on May 13. Christian Mission Aid (CMA) has completed an assessment in Lankien. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has completed an assessment in Ganyliel and are planning another in Mading. An Emergency Response Team (ERT) has been established in Lokichokio to deal with the humanitarian needs in Upper Nile. Current members are MSF-Holland, Medecins du Monde (MDM), UNICEF and WFP. UPDATE ON RECENT INCIDENTS AFFECTING THE SECURITY OF OLS PERSONNEL 7 May - SUPRAID staff temporarily relocated from Wunrok to Pakok, Bahr el Ghazal, on the advice of local authorities. They returned to Wunrok later in the day. 9 May - The OLS Security Officer received reports that bombs were dropped approximately seven kilometers from Ikotos, Eastern Equatoria. No causalities were reported. 10 May - MSF-Belgium staff in Pakok relocated to Akon on the advice of local counterparts. They were later advised that it was safe to return. 11 May - Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) reports that their vehicle, en route from Ikotos to New Cush, was ambushed. One passenger was killed in the ambush. Local authorities are reportedly seeking the attackers. 13 May - OLS staff reported that bombs were dropped on Pakor on Wednesday. There were no casualties reported. ----------------------- 14 May 1998. BAHR EL GHAZAL EMERGENCY SITREP #10 COVERING 1-14 MAY 1. FLIGHT CLEARANCES/RESTRICTIONS The Government of Sudan has approved the flight request list for locations in southern Sudan for the month of February with the following exceptions: Yomciir, Panyagor, Maridi, Yei, Mundri and Ikotos. 2. CLEARANCE FOR ADDITIONAL AIRCRAFT On May 3rd 1998, the GOS gave approval for the use of three additional Hercules C-130 and one Buffalo for delivery of relief into southern Sudan. This will increase the current aircraft fleet to five C-130s and three Buffalos. With the additional aircraft and planned road deliveries, OLS will be able to deliver approximately 6,000 MT of food assistance per month. As of 6 May the three additional C-130 aircraft were operational. The additional Buffalo will increase the delivery of non-food items, such as seeds and tools, by approximately 300 MT per month. 3. SEEDS AND TOOLS The movement of seeds and tools into Bahr El Ghazal is currently underway. 155 MT of seed and 25 MT of Tools are being moved under the common airbridge into Northern Bahr El Ghazal. 60% of this has already been put into place. The Seeds and Tools have been contributed by the following: 96.02 MT seed:Save the Children Fund UK 50 MT seed: World Vision International 8.48 MT seed: UNICEF - House Hold Food Security (HHFS) 25 MT tools: UNICEF - HHFS US Agency for International Development (USAID) has contributed $350,000 for the distribution of the above. A further 240 MT of seed, 85% of which will be sent to Upper Nile/Jonglei area is being procured with funding from the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) which has contributed 250,000 ECUs for the required seed and transport, an additional contribution of 64 MT sorghum, 20 MT maize, 24 MT cowpeas, 7,000 large malodas and the transport cost has been promised by Medecins Sans Frontieres - Holland (MSF-H). A further 460 tons of cereal seed and 500 tons of pulses and oil seed is required to meet the needs of Bahr El Ghazal. 4. HEALTH Medecins Sans Frontieres - Switzerland (MSF-CH) has a 30 bed rural hospital in Marial Lou where they are doing supplementary feeding. They have recently taken over 5 former World Vision International (WVI) Primary Health Care Units in Akot and Makwach where there are 150 cattle camps with an approximate population of 90,000 - 100,000 people. 5. ASSESSMENT TO THE NUBA MOUNTAINS On Wednesday 13 May the Government of Sudan (GOS) gave clearance for an assessment into the SPLM held areas of the Nuba Mountains. The assessment is scheduled to begin next week and will comprise of United Nations staff members from the Northern and Southern sectors of OLS. The Nuba Relief and Rehabilitation and Development Society (NRRDS), a non-OLS NGO working in the Nuba region , reports that the food security situation is severe. The only relief food available for the people is in Government organized and UN supported relief camps. To access this food, people must leave their homes and depend almost entirely on outside relief assistance. The need for humanitarian work on a large scale, including household food security assistance, health, education and other programmes will be examined. Following the OLS assessment, a joint report will be released as the basis for planning and requests for specific humanitarian relief. For Further Information Contact: Gillian Wilcox, UNICEF/OLS Tel 622403 and Christy Dow Murray, UNICEF/OLS, Tel 622410